Sudan: Bashir vows to back Gezira state governor in presidential elections

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir said yesterday that he will step down from his position in 2020, adding that he will back the governor of Gezira state, Mohamed Tahir Ayala, in the presidential elections should he decide to run.

Al-Bashir rose to power in 1989 through a bloodless coup. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes in Darfur.

In a speech televised by state television yesterday, Al-Bashir said: “If Ayala runs for president in 2020, I will support him.”

Ayala is currently the head of the Gezira branch of the ruling National Congress Party.

He commented on Al-Bashir’s support by saying he would back the Sudanese president if he ran for a third term in office.

Ayala added, at a public gathering attended by Al-Bashir: “The demand of the Gezira people and my demand is for 2020 to be the year where Al-Bashir is elected for a third term in office. That’s the demand of all of the Sudanese people.”

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